Single-trigger mechanism.



PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

J. P. WHITE. SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' NO MODEL.

No. 746,619. PATENTED DEC. 8, 190 3.-

J. P. WHITE.

SINGLE TRIGGER MEOHANISM;'

APPLIOATIOII N LED MAY 2, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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- NITED STATES Patented December 8, 1903.

' ATENT FFICE.

SINGLE-TRIGGERME'C'HANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 746,619, dated December'S, 1903.

Application filed May 2, 1903.

To all whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Ohatham and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Single-Trigger Double-Barreled Guns, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to a'single-trigger double-barreled gun; and the objects of the invention are to provide an efiective, light, and inexpensive article of this character having means for preventing the discharge of the second barrel after the discharge of the first one.

The improvements are of such a character that they may be readily incorporated in double-barreled guns of the ordinary kind without any material changes in the structure thereof. While I have termed the invention a single-trigger double-barreled gun, some of the featuresof such invention may be used with advantagdn other types of guns.

The invention is illustrated in one simple embodiment thereof in .the accompanying drawings, formiug'a part of this specification,

with a hammer-gun; but of course it is not limited in this respect, nor is it limited to the arrangement aniil exact construction of the parts set forth in the following description, for many variations as to these points may be adopted-within the scope of my claims.

' 'flln said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation'of a portion of a gun including my inventionwith a portion of the left lock-plate broken away to illustrate the interior mechanism of said gun. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively top plan and rear views of the improved gun. Fig. 4 is an inside elevation of the right lock-plate, its hammer, and certain coacting parts, such hammer being shown cocked. Fig. 5 is a like View showing the hammer down. Fig. 6 is a detail view in elevation of the trigger mechanism and illustrates the fiy which actuates the secondary sear as locked against shifting movement.

Fig. 7 is a detail view in-. perspective of the detent which cooperates with said fly and its arm and controlling-spring. Fig. 8 is a simi-. lar view" of said fly. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of trigger mechanism. Fig. 10 is a plan viewof the same. Figs. 11

Serial No. 155,346. (No model.)

plates (each denoted by 2) and the trigger-- plate 3, which are mounted, constructed, and related in a manner familiar in this field. Each lock-plate is provided with a mainspring 4, bridle 5, tumbler 6, sear 7, and searspring 8, these parts also being mounted and related to each other in a familiar way. The tumblers 6 of course are connected with the firing devices or hammers 9, respectively,

mounted upon the outside of the respective lock-plates and cooperating with the ordinary firing-pins. Of course in a hammerless gun the relation of the parts would not be the same as that described; but, as previously indicated, the invention is not limited in its use .to a hammer-gun.

iThe outer ends of the sears 7 have inwardly-projecting arms 10, adapted to be engaged by the trigger mechanism in order to successively operate the sears to efiect release ofthe hammers and consequent discharge of the barrels.

The parts are so arranged that the right barrel is initially fired, means being provided, as will hereinafter appear, to prevent the reaction of the trigger upon the discharge of the initial barrel, whereby the second barrel cannot he accidentally discharged by thevrecoil due to the discharge of the first barrel. From the foregoing it will be evident that the gun therefore includes primary and secondary locks, each having a tumbler and a sear, trigger mechanism being pro-' vided for operating the scars in sequence,

such trigger mechanism being of a peculiar ward from the respective sears, may after" firing be lifted clear of the trigger mechanism,'the respective tumblers 6, justbelow the cocking-notches 11 therein, are provided with cam-faces 12, which as the hammers. are released ride against the forward ends' of the sears, thereby to raise said arms. This is important, as after the first barrel is dis charged the sear codperativeftherewith is raised clear of the trigger-blade, so as not to interfere with the firing of the second barrel, by reason of which the pull upon the trigger to discharge each barrel is the same.

The trigger consists of a blade 13 and a fingerpiece 14, depending therefrom, the blade being suitably pivotally carried upon the upper side of the trigger-plate 3. The trigger-spring is denoted by 15, it being fastened to the upper side of the plate 3 well to the rear of the pivotal point of the blade 13 and its free end being adapted to engage the cam-'head of a screw 16, tapped into the left face of the blade. By turning the cam headed screw into or out of the blade, the working surface of which engages the free end of the spring 15, the tension of said spring may be regulated in order to adjust the-pull of the trigger.

In Fig. 1 the trigger is shown as in its forward or normal position and bothhammers down. As the right hammer is cocked the cam-face 12 on the cooperating tnm'bl'er 6 will ride against the inner free, end of the sear 7, the arm 10 at the outer end of the sear being lowered into contact with the trigger-blade by the usual sear-spring, the two parts being caused to engage at about the time the inner end or toe of the sear enters the cocking-notch 11 of the right or primary locking mechanism. By pulling 'upon the fingerpiece 14 of the trigger the blade thereof will be thrust upward, thereby moving the right or primary sear-arm 10 in a corresponding direction and throwing the pointor toe of the sear out of the cocking-notch 11, releasing the primary tumbler and the corresponding hammer 9, which is operated by its spring.

The primary sear 7 is operated directly by the trigger-blade, the secondary sear being actuated by what I term a fiy,. pivotally mounted upon the trigger-blade in proximity to the primary-sear-engaging portion thereof,

said primary sear being adapted to throw the spring-actuated fly or pawl to an inoperative.

or ineifective positionas the primary ham mer is cooked, said fly being maintained in such position temporarily bya detent, as will hereinafter appear. The springactuated fly is denoted by 17, it being held in a normal or working position by the leaf-spring 18, suitably fastened at one end in a slot in the trigger-blade and the free end of the spring hearing against the upper end of the H3 The free end of the primary sear-arm 10 is provided with the depending fiy-engaging portion 19, which, it will be seen, is above the head of the fly, it being understood from this that the said primary sear-arm 10 extends across the trigger-blade. As the primary hammer 9 is cooked in the manner hereinbefore described the primary sear-arm 10 is lowered into contact with the trigger-blade .24 in the trigger-plate.

13, and as the said arm 10 is lowered the derying the beveled lug 20 upon the said fly under the notch 21 at the free end of the detent 22, pivoted upon a lug upon the upper side of the trigger-plate 3 and having a dethe spring 18 engages the same, thereby carpending right-angular arm 23 extending.

through the inner end of a longitudinal slot The function of the arm 23 will hereinafter appear. The beveled lug 20 upon the (fly 1'7 is adapted to engage the arm 10 of the secondary sear, it being seen that the inner end of said secondary arm is slightly cut away, so as not to interfere with the proper action of the detent 22. As the primary hammer 9.is cooked the projecting dependingportion 19 upon the primary sear-arm 10 engages the upper end of the spring-actuated fly 17, so as to swing the upper portion of the fly forward in order to bring the lug 20 under the notch 21' of the detent 22, said lug being carried from under the inmary hammer, the blade as it is elevated carrying the lug 20 of'the fly into the detentnotch 22 in order to positively hold the fly in its inefiective position. Immediately on the firing of the primary. barrel of the gun the recoil-operated means is brought into action for locking the trigger against reaction, as in case it immediately returns to its initial position the accidental operation of the secondary hammer might follow. Such means will now be described.

Pivoted upon the under side of the trigger-plate 3 isa swinging recoil-operated block or check 25, having at its upper end a nose 26, which projects through a slot in said plate and cooperates with the triggerblade 13.

This nose-26 is located a short distance for ward of the axis of motion of the block or check 25. The latter is: represented, forexample, in Fig. 1 as occupying its normal position, at which time the 'nose is engaged by the under side of the blade 13 (see Fig. 4) to hold the block in the angular position represented in said figure. As the trigger-blade 13 is operated to efiect the discharge of the primary barrel under the action of the fingerpiece 14 it frees the nose 26. The instant the right or primary barrel is discharged the recoil'resulting therefrom throws the block 25 to a perpendicular position, bringing the' nose 26 under and in solid engagement with] the trigger-blade 13,. then in its extreme backing of the trigger-blade is only momentary,

- from, the blade will be also released to perbut during the same the finger of thetuser can engage the finger-piece to hold back the trigger-blade. .VVhen the finger-piece is released by the user taking his finger theremit the spring '15 to return said blade to its original position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to efi'ect subsequently the discharge of the second barrel. The said blade as it is returned to such original position by its spring acts against the nose 26 of the block or check 25 to return the latter to its primary position, as also represented by said two figures. As the said parts return to their primary positions,

the blade 13 of course being lowered, the lug -20 of the fly'will consequently be carried out of the notch 21, and the instant said lug leaves the notch the spring 18 of the fly throws the upper end thereof rearward, carrying the lug underthe secondary sear-arm 10, a suitable stop upon the trigger-blade holdingthe fly in its working position with the lug'under the secondary sear-arm. When the fingerpiece 14 is pulled, the blade. 13 will be ele-- vated, so as to move the lug 20 against the secondary sear-arm 10 in order to elevate the rear end of the secondary sear, and thereby release the secondary firing mechanism.

The free end of the detent 22 may be thrown down against the inner side of the lug 20- in case it is desired to use simply one barrel, as will now appear. It will be remembered that the detent 22 is pivotally mounted and that it has a depending arm 23 projecting through the longitudinal. slot 24 of the trigger-plate. A leaf-spring27 is suit-ably connected to the lower end of this depending arm,

and the free end of the spring is bowed and extends through the said slot 24 and bears against the upper-side of the trigger-plate, the spring serving to maintain the detent in its two positions.

normal position, the lower end of the arm 23', when it is desired to use sim ply the left barrel of the gun, will be moved forwardsay by a thumb- -so as to lower. the notched end of the detent 22 and carry the'same into en-' cannot be cocked, for the primary sear-arm 10 cannot be lowered sufficiently to enable the primary hammer to be cooked, for just before the full motion is completed the depending fly-engaging portion 19 of the primary sear-arm will-strike the head of the fly, which at this time is locked in its secondary hammer-operating position in order to prevent the fnll or booking movement of the primary hammer. The secondary hammer, howwe, may be freely cocked in order to bring This check-' anism which I will now describe.

When the two hammers. are down and .the other parts are in their the secondary sear-arm 10 over the lug 20. When, therefore, after the secondary hammer has been cooked the finger-piece 14: is pulled, thelug will engage and lift the secondary sear-arm lO 'to effect the release of the secondary hammer and consequent discharge of the left barrel of the gun.

I provide means for adjusting the pull or movement of the trigger,and the means shown for this purpose will now be set forth. Re-

ger-blade l3 is'sho'wn provided with a screw 30, tapped therein, the head of the screw beferring more particularly to Fig.5, the trig- I ing cam-shaped and being'adaptedto engage the fixed trigger-plate 3 to thereby adjust the length of pull of the trigger.

The foregoing description relates particularly to the organization illustrated in full by Figsjl to 8, inclusive. In Figs. 9 .to 12, in-' elusive, I illustrate a modified trigger mech- The right blade (there being two blades forming part of the modified mechanism) is denoted by 35 and the left one by 36, the right blade having the usual finger-piece. .Upon one side of the right blade is a pivotally-mounted spring-actuated fly 37, having at its lower end a lug 38, adapted under certain conditions to be thrown into a notch 39 in the rear face of the left blade 36,'which latter is movable freely, upon the arbor of the right trigger-blade. The said fly has at its upper end a ing 40, cooperative with the primary sear-arm 10, it being. nderstood that the sears and the other mechanism are the same as that hereinbefore described, the only change being in the trigger mechanism. When the right trigger is cooked, the primary sear-arm 10 will engage the upper. lug 40 of the spring-actuated fly 37, and will thereby throw the lower lug 38 out of the notch 39 in the left blade, so that the two blades are thereby uncoupled. The

secondaryhammer is then cocked. Then by pulling upon the finger-piece of the right blade 35 said blade operates the primarysear in order to release the primary trigger, and as soon as the right blade returns to its initial position the lower lug 38 will be thrown into-the notch 39 of the left blade by the power of the spring of the fly, so that the right and left blades are thereby positively coupled. When, therefore, the finger-piece is pulled, the left blade 36 will be carried upward in order to operate the secondary sear to effect the release of the secondary hammer.

.It will be evident that in both cases the. gun includes primary and secondary locks each havinga tumbler and a sear, a trigger for operating the primary sear, means for operating the secondary sear, including a shiftable fly connected with said trigger, said primary sear serving to throw the fly into an inefiective position on one of its movements.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having altumhler and a seama sition after the operation of the primary sear by the trigger.

2. A gun including primary and secondary locks each havinga tumbler and a sear, a

trigger for operating the primary sear, a

spring-actuated fly on the trigger for operating the secondary sear, the primary sear serving to shift the fly into an ineffective position as it is moved toward its operative po- I sition, and means for holding the fly in its ineffective position after the operation of the primary sear by the trigger.

3. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a'tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the primary sear and one of the tumblers having a cam-face for operating the sear when said tumbler is released, to positively carry the sear clear of the trigger, a shiftable fly on the trigger foroperating the secondary sear, the primary sear serving to shift the fly to an ineffective position as it is moved toward its operative position, and means for holding the fly in its ineffective position after the operation of the primary sear by the primary trigger.

4. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a tumbler and a seal, a trigger having a blade for actuating the primary sear, a spring-actuated fly shiftably mounted on said blade, for operating the secondary sear, the primary sear serving to shift the fly into an ineffective position as it is moved toward its operative position, a detent supported independently of the blade for'holding the fly in its ineffective position as the blade is operated to actuate the primary sear, and a recoil-operated block for locking the trigger-blade against retraction after the said blade has actuated the primary sear.

5. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a tumbler and a scar, a trigger having a blade for actuating the primary sear, a spring-actuated fly shiftably mounted on said blade, for operatingthe secondary sear, the primary sear serving to shift the fly into an inefiiective position as it is moved toward its operative position, a detent supported independently of the'blade for holding the. fly in its ineffective position as the blade is operated to actuate the primary scar, and a pivotally-monnted block, recoil-operated, provided with a nose for engaging under the trigger-blade after the operation of the primary searby the trigger, to hold said blade against retraction.

6. A gun including primary and secondary looks each having a tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the primary sear, a pivoted secondary-sear-operating fiy upon the trigger, the primary sear serving, as y it is moved toward its operative position, to shift "meets said 'fly into an inefiective position, a detent supported independently of the trigger for holding the fly in its ineffective position after the trigger has been operated to effect the release of the primary sear, and recoil-operated means movable into working position to hold the blade against retraction after release of the primary sear.

7. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the primary sear, a secondarysear-operating fly shiftably supported by the trigger, said fly being shiftable into ineffective position by the primary sear as the latter is moved toward its operative position, a notched detent supported independently of the trigger, the iiy being provided with a lug to enter said notch as the trigger is operated to release the primary sear, and recoil-operated means for holding the trigger againstretraction after the release of the primary sear.

8. A-gun including primary and secondary locks each having a tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the primary s'ear, a fly shiftably carried by the trigger for operating the secondary sear, the primary sear serving to shift the fly into an ineffective position as it is moved toward its operative position, and means for locking the fly in its effective position thereby to prevent the normal action of the primary sear. I A

9. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a. tumbler and a sear, a trigger for operating the primary sear, a spring-actuated fly carried by the trigger and provided with a lug for operatingthe secondary sear,a pivotally-mounted detent supported independently of the trigger, having a notch for engaging said lug and also having a spring-controlled arm, said detent be-- ing shiftable into position to hold the fly in its eifective position, and recoil -oper ated means cooperative with the trigger forlockiug the same'against retraction after the release of the primary sear.

, 10. A gun including a lock provided with a tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the soar, and a screw upon the trigger having a cam-head to engage a fixed part of the gun to thereby adjust the length of the pull of the trigger.

11. A gun including primary and secondary locks each having a tumbler and a scar, a trigger for operating the primary sear, means for operating the secondary sear, including a shiftable fly connected with said trigger, said primary sear serving to throw the fly into an ineifectiv'e position on one of its movements.

I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- DBSSGS.

JOSEPH P. WHITE. Witnesses: y

ALLAN 'Swnon, E. S. ABRAHAM. 

